Man Accused In Hour-Long String of Robberies

ST. LOUIS (AP) - A St. Louis man is facing charges for a string of street drive-by robberies, all of which occurred within one hour in and around downtown.

Darien Babbitt is charged with three counts of robbery, five counts of armed criminal action and two counts of attempted robbery.

Police say the crime spree began around 11 p.m. on Sunday when Babbitt drove up to four people downtown and showed a gun. He allegedly stole purses, phones and wallets. Moments later, a 27-year-old man was robbed of his wallet and phone.

Fifteen minutes after that robbery, Babbitt allegedly robbed a 25-year-old. At 11:45 p.m., just blocks from the first robbery, Babbitt drove up to a 36-year-old man who was also in a car and demanding money. That man sped away.